Two summers ago I found myself in a sort of emotional rut. I wasn’t feeling as happy and motivated as I would have wished, and I knew that I deserved better for myself. I think we all have periods of our life like this. We know we are not in the right mindset, or there is something preventing us from achieving our goals. I will share with you what happened in my life that helped me get out of this funk, and how you can reach what I like to call a “mountaintop moment.”
I reached my mountaintop physically and spiritually. Two summers ago I visited my grandma, who lives in the countryside of Mexico surrounded by beautiful green mountains. I visited her by myself, which allowed me to explore on my own. One day, I decided to go on a morning hike so I strapped on my Chacos and headed out. After some time hiking, I reached a clearing, which overlooked a valley underneath, and in that moment I felt the fog lift from my mind. My doubts and insecurities seemed to vanish, and I was just happy to be in the present moment. It truly felt amazing, but I discovered that an amazing feeling of clarity and bliss does not require a beautiful hike up a mountain. Here are four simple ways with which you can be on top of your game:
Take time to disconnect.
Disconnect from social media and texting. When you take time to disconnect, you can get in tune with yourself. When I went on my hike I made sure that my cell phone was not a distraction from the nature around me, or from listening to my inner voice. You can also just take time to clear your mind; this is a great opportunity to turn off the chatter that is always going on in our brains. I know disconnecting is hard, but it can be 10 minutes where you sit in silence, go for a walk or bake a dessert. This is all about catering the process to your own life!
Breathe.
I know this sounds simple, but we don’t take enough time in our days to take deep, meaningful breaths. Taking long breaths is proven to be cleansing for the body and soul. When I got to the clearing at the top of the mountain, I stood still and took deep breaths. I was able to appreciate the clear air and sunlight. Deep breathing is a main component in yoga because its benefits are life altering.
Do the things you want to do.
I find that it is easy to get into the habit of doing what others want. If you are in a group setting, it becomes second nature to go along with what the group wants to do. This is not inherently a bad thing, but it can be troublesome if you always put your needs second. Since I was on this trip alone, I did the activities I wanted to do all the time. I had my own agenda and it did not involve anyone else’s needs. That morning I felt like going on a hike, so without waiting for someone to want to go with me, I got up and went on my own. I responded to my own needs. This makes a world of a difference when getting out of a funk because we can determine what we want. If I am not feeling my best, I tend to second-guess myself. My confidence is not as high as it could be. Making decisions on your own, even if it’s about something small you’ve been wanting to do, can boost your confidence. With this method you are relying on yourself to be the guide of your own life, and that feels pretty great.
Practice gratitude.
As I closed my eyes on that mountaintop, I told myself different things I was grateful for. I felt thankful for the sun shining on me, for the cooling breeze, for the scent of grass and for being where I was that day. These were simple things I was grateful for; I just had to name things that were making me happy in that moment. Even though saying thank you is very simple, I tend to go days and days without appreciating the great things around me. I will focus on what I want to change, or what is making me unhappy. However, the moment I shift my focus on all the things I have to be grateful for, my mood changes instantly. Throwing a simple “thank you” out into the universe has tremendous possibilities. You can lift your mood and realize what’s most important in your life.
I did these four, easy actions on the top of a mountain, but you don’t have to. You can utilize these tricks on your walk to class or even before going to bed. Self-care is very important, and it is how I grow as a woman and gain confidence in myself. So don’t wait until tomorrow when you could be reaching your mountaintop right now!